John Tuttle writes in 020531 MMDigest:

> I never figured GFCI was needed in the basement, but I'll most likely
> install GFCI right at the fuse box just in case of future problems.

My copy of the NEC is 1996, so there may be additions or changes.

Ground Fault Interrupting (GFI) circuits are required on all new home
construction at the following areas - bathrooms, garages, ground level
portions of unfinished accessory buildings (sheds and workshops for
instance), outdoors, crawl spaces, unfinished basements and above the
counters of kitchens and wet bar sinks.

There are some exceptions to this list. For instance, you don't need to
have GFI at an outlet for your garage door opener of for a dedicated
outlet for a freezer or central vacuum, in the garage, etc. I expect
you do not need, or want, GFI for a sump pump. You are supposed to
install a single outlet for such excepted cases so you can't use the
empty part of a duplex outlet for other applications. If you can use
both outlets of a duplex outlet for permanent connections, then you can
have a duplex outlet.

I agree with crawl spaces in particular as I used my Milwaukee close
quarter drill while sitting in a damp crawl space and got sparks from
the motor through the vent slots to my hand with ease. That tool,
marvelous though it is, must be held around the slots to use, there is
no handle. Even though it is double insulated, dampness throws all the
insulation protection out the window.

You can get GFI circuit breakers for most electrical panels to provide
protection for entire circuits. Consider what else is on the circuit
before you use one of these as some power glitch can open a GFI
protector when you aren't home and everything on the circuit will go
without power. Also, I don't know if GFI circuit breakers have the same
specification for the ground fault current as a duplex socket type has.

Don Shenbarger